Leader Staff
A Black Creek man was charged Thursday in connection with the assault of a Gillett man outside of a Cecil bar over the weekend.
Cody R. Chapin, 22, could face a maximum 12 1/2 years in prison and $25,000 fine if found guilty of second-degree reckless injury.
Chapin is accused of throwing or shoving Kyle J. Patzer, 27, to the ground early Saturday, causing skull fractures and a blood clot.
The incident happened outside the Castaways Bar, 100 N. Warrington Ave., about 1 a.m.
Shawano County sheriff’s deputies investigating the incident initially found parties at the scene uncooperative, but news reports about the assault began making the rounds on Facebook and Twitter, according to the criminal complaint.
The complaint states an anonymous tip on Twitter named Chapin as a suspect.
Chapin contacted the Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday and said he wanted to turn himself in for assaulting Patzer, according to the complaint. He was taken into custody the next day.
According to the complaint, Chapin told authorities he had had too much to drink and believed that Patzer had hit on his girlfriend. He later said he had no idea what, if anything, Patzer might have said to her.
The complaint states Chapin told authorities he went outside where Patzer was smoking a cigarette, grabbed him by the chest and shoved him backwards. He said he saw Patzer land on his back and go unconscious.
Chapin was released on a $15,000 signature bond after an initial appearance before Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge James Habeck on Thursday.
He is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance May 5.